Everyone experiences reading slumps time and again. Unfortunately my reading slump has been
weeks long, and it seems like nothing I pick up has taken me out of it. For someone who reads as
regularly as I do, once in awhile I come across a span of time where no books are doing it for me.
Why does this happen? And whose fault is it? Is it mine? Or the books I’m picking?
The real answer is it’s no one’s fault. Sometimes the brain just gets acclimated to what it’s being
exposed to, and it just needs a little refresh. To stave off a reading slump, I like to switch up genres.
I’m a Romance reader through and through which means I read ALL sub-genres, but I also tend to go
through phases. For example, I recently went through a Historical Romance phase and read a bunch
of books that I enjoyed before switching back to Contemporary Romance or Paranormal.
But sometimes that’s not even enough, and your brain needs to completely reboot itself and start with
a clean slate. This is where the Urban Fantasy genre comes in for me. Faster paced and often written
in first person point of view, sometimes it’s necessary to experience a change in narrative to get
yourself out of a slump.
Worse case scenario is when not even a genre change works—then what do you do? I have two
options which involve author writing style. Either you have to go back and reread some of your all-
time favorite books as comfort reads or if you’re lucky, one of your favorite authors has a book
releasing soon. I find that both these options work because of familiarity. Since you’ve read the book
or the author before, these give a greater sense of comfort for the reader. Moreover, if the books are
part of a series, it’s easy for the mind to fall back into the world and just enjoy.
Luckily the month of June has new releases from my favorite authors so I won’t be worried
about my reading slump for long. These authors are ones that I can always count on.
Of course, what may work for me may not work for you so I’m curious to hear what you do to get
yourself out of a reading slump!
Singh’s Psy-Changeling is a nice one to return to because, while it
has its romance, there’s quite a lot of action and world politics in it to keep it new and
different.
About: The “smoldering
heat, epic romance, and awesome action”* of Nalini Singh’s New York Times bestselling series
continues as two Arrows find themselves caught in a chilling conspiracy that spans all three races…
Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they
must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find
themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to
make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn’t welcome outsiders.
And they must survive. A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad, an enemy
that cannot be permitted to succeed in its deadly campaign. Aden will cross any line to keep his
people safe for this new future, where even an assassin might have hope of a life beyond blood and
death and pain.
Zaira has no such hope. She knows she’s too damaged to return from the abyss. Her
driving goal is to protect Aden, protect the only person who has ever come back for her no matter
what. This time, even Aden’s passionate determination may not be enough—because the emotionless
chill of Silence existed for a reason. For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken…like
Zaira.
As the fifth book in the Jessica McClain series, this is one I love to
return to because of its edgy Urban Fantasy feel so it’s a nice change of pace from what I normally
read.
About: Jessica arrives
back from the Underworld to find her father embroiled in a battle against the Made wolves. She and
her crew drop everything to join them.
Once she arrives, the threat is after her. Jessica is lured into danger when her adversary takes
something precious from her. With help from an unlikely source, Jessica goes up against her creator
in a battle that will decide the path of everyone involved. She must war against a new set of foes,
ones who could not only steal her power, but could take her soul as well.
Laughter cures all, and there’s no one more silly and fun-loving as
Laurenston’s Pride series!
About: There’s nothing
like a good-ol’-boy wolf. And ace security expert Ricky Lee Reed serves, protects and seduces with
all the right moves…
Sure, Toni Jean-Louis Parker has to be the responsible oldest sister to a crazy-brilliant clan of jackal
siblings. But now she’s cutting loose for some hot, sweaty, no-commitments fun—and the sexy, slow-
talking, swift-moving predator assigned to keep her family safe is just the right thing to shapeshift her
love life into overdrive. Trouble is, he’s starting to get all obsessive wolf on her every time he looks in
her direction…
Getting serious about anyone isn’t in Ricky Lee Reed’s plans. Hell, even now he doesn’t really have a
plan—outside of catching whoever is threatening this dangerously brilliant family. But the more he
sees of Toni, the more he’s howling for her. And whatever it takes to convince her that what they have
is everything, well, this wily wolf is down for the sizzling chase…
This year, I decided to switch things up a bit, and read genres that I haven't read before. Since this isn't the only book site that I look at, I've had a chance to read books from some very talented Authors, and have been exposed to some books that normally I wouldn't have given a second look at. I can't say that I'm very lucky at winning, but cherish the books that I DO win, and read them all!! Most Authors put their hearts and souls into what they write, and therefore, if you win a book, it's only right to read it. If you find a new genre through this method, it pulls you out of a slump as well. Fortunately, I haven't found a slump yet, and also have my favorite Authors, which I read in between, when their new books come out. Your latest book sounds good, and I'm looking forward to reading it. I have it on my TBR list. Congratulations on your book, which should do well. I apologize for the long answer. (Peggy Roberson 11:29am June 4, 2015)